'The mayor isn't happy to see Cara,' Sylvester telepathically told Hagrit. 'That means her death might have been a murder—and he's now my top suspect.'
[What could possibly be his motive for killing his stepdaughter?]
'That's something I will have to find out.'
At that moment, the other woman at the table rose, and Sylvester couldn't help but admire her. She had golden blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and a figure that could rival Scarlett Johansson's. As Cara's mother pulled away, Sylvester's attention shifted fully to the stunning blonde, who looked to be in her early twenties. Reading her mind, he learned with some disappointment that she and Cara had been feuding before Cara's death.
[Is she going to be your first conquest?]
'Yes, definitely. She will be mine.'
[Is there a chance you might fall in love with her?]
'Love? No. This has nothing to do with love. I just want to savor every inch of her sexy body.'
[Purely just sex, then?]
'Yes. Love isn't an option for me anymore. Trusting someone like I trusted Amanda just isn't going to happen again'
The reverie was interrupted by Cara's mother, who asked, "Honey, why were you taking drugs? Were you depressed?"
Before Sylvester could respond, the blonde woman cut in with a sharp tone, "Yes, Cara, tell us why you were taking Opioids to the point you overdosed on it?"
Sylvester caught the flash of hostility in her eyes and wondered why she held such animosity, even now that Cara has returned from death.
He adopted a pained look and replied, "I don't remember anything. I don't remember taking any drugs. Everything is just blurry... I can barely remember you, Mom."
Cara's mother hugged him again, her voice choked. "I couldn't believe it when I heard you overdosed. That's not like the daughter I raised. I know you're not an addict."
The mayor stood up abruptly, his face inscrutable. "You really don't remember anything?"
Sylvester shook his head, but he caught a fleeting smile on the mayor's face before it shifted back to neutral. Through his mind-reading, Sylvester picked up the mayor's thought: "This is good. She won't say what she saw. I hope she never regains her memory."
'What secret did Cara uncover?' Sylvester wondered. The certainty that she'd been murdered solidified in his mind.
The young man who'd been the first to recognize Sylvester approached him, grinning. "Welcome back to the land of the living, Cara! In case you don't remember, I'm Travis, your stepbrother. Don't mind my twin sister, Ashley. She can be a bit mean sometimes." He hugged Sylvester awkwardly. "Hmm, you do smell a bit weird."
"Well, I did just come from the morgue," Sylvester replied dryly.
Turning to Darren, who can't wait to get out of there, "Thanks for bringing me back home," Sylvester said.
Everyone's attention shifted to Darren as Cara's mother and the mayor thanked him.
"It was no trouble, really—I'm just being a good neighbor," Darren replied.
The mayor's eyes narrowed slightly. "Neighbor? So, you live nearby?"
"Yes, I live two houses down," Darren answered.
"Ah, you must be the veterinarian, then?" the mayor asked, recognition dawning.
"Yes, and I do some lab work at the hospital as well," Darren replied. Sylvester made a mental note of this proximity to the morgue—no wonder Darren could access fresh corpses for his disturbing "hobby."
"Well, thank you for your kindness," the mayor said, his expression softening. "I owe you one. If there's ever anything you need don't hesitate to ask."
Darren nodded, looking pleased. "Thank you, sir. I may take you up on that someday. Goodnight."
He was about to leave when Sylvester startled him by hugging him, "This isn't over. I am letting you go doesn't mean we are square, got it?" Sylvester whispered in Darren's ear, he pulled away from Darren before he could respond, taking in his subtle terrified expression, for some weird reason this excited Sylvester.
Darren, still quiet but shaken by what Sylvester said, gave a polite nod and left the house.
Once he was gone, Cara's mother turned back to Sylvester, her tone filled with warmth. "Honey, are you hungry? You must be starving. I can have the chef make your favorite spaghetti and meatballs, or we could order in some pizza. Which would you like?"
You're right, Mom." The word felt strange in Sylvester's mouth, yet oddly comforting. "I am hungry, and both options sound good. Though, I think I'm craving pizza right now. But first... I really need a bath. I can't stand smelling like a morgue any longer."
"Let's get you to your room, and I'll order your favorite—extra cheese, just how you like it," She beamed and started toward the stairs.
'Do Cara and I have the same tastes?' Sylvester wondered.
[Yes, you share quite a few similarities. She had a knack for sleuthing, just like you.]
'And it got her killed, no doubt.'
Cara's mother led Sylvester to a lavishly decorated room, its pink theme clashing with his tastes as he stepped inside. "I'll leave you to it, honey," she said gently. "But if you need anything, don't hesitate to call." With one last, worried look, she left him alone.
Once alone, Sylvester surveyed the girlish decor, amused by its stark contrast to his own tastes.
He stripped off his clothes and entered the bathroom, relishing the warmth of the water coming from the shower.
His hands grazed the breasts on his chest and he felt the urge to squeeze it, immediately a wave of uninhibited thoughts flooded his mind.
Jerking off in the bathroom was a common occurrence in his former life, since he rarely got any action but experiencing it as a woman is an entirely different sensation.
Sylvester began to explore his new body, his fingers delicately touching all the features of Cara gorgeous body, "I am much more sexier than I thought."
As he kept squeezing Cara's breasts, the urge to sexually explore his new body became more intense. Ah they are so freaking soft, he thought as his now delicate hands explored the contours of Cara's breasts. He marveled at the texture.
"Why are women's bodies so soft. They so fucking good to touch," he exclaimed out loud.
As he his fingers were about to go down south, Hagrit's voice interrupted him.
[This is probably a good time to tell you that you've fulfilled both your main quest and side quest.]
'Jesus! I am kinda busy here,' a startled Sylvester exclaimed.
[Sorry but you didn't shut me off.]
'Fair point,' Sylvester thought while resuming his bathing.
[Your rewards are ready, would you like to see it now?]
"Yes"
[First mission (Main quest): Get Back Home (Fulfilled).]
[You have been rewarded 500 points.]
[Skill: Charming.]
[Side quest: Exploit Your First Target (Fulfilled).]
[You have been rewarded with 200 points.]
[You have earned a total of 700 points.]
"Wow, this feels good," Sylvester murmured, rinsing the last of the soap from his skin and stepping out of the bathroom, letting the warm steam billow out as he dried off with a towel.
"I feel like an agent who just wrapped up a mission."
[I have to say, you've got talent. You could easily be an actor with how convincingly you lie.]
"Thanks for the compliment, Hagrit."
[Would you like to know the details of the skill you have been rewarded with?]
Sylvester was just about to answer when the door swung open, and Travis strolled in, completely unannounced. The timing couldn't have been worse—Sylvester was mid-motion, still drying off. He froze, feeling the discomfort of being caught off guard.
What does he want? Sylvester thought, frustration building. And why the hell would he just walk in so casually, like barging into Cara's room is a normal thing?